Mandatory Music: Technicolor Eyes by Backseat Goodbye

If you are a fan of simpler, beautiful songs, than this one is for you. Backseat Goodbye is the stage and recording name of pop-folk singer-songwriter Chad Sugg . His music has been described as "brilliant upbeat acoustic folk you can sing along, and listen to all day." and "Feel good pop music that's deeper than what you're used to..."

Check it out!



Selected Lyrics:

I like simple songs with pretty words
I tried poetry, but it's just no good
the pages get lost, besides I'd much rather sing to you

I love living life with you by my side
you're a smart kid with a beautiful smile
and oh god those technicolor eyes

In My Mailbox (7)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie to share the awesome things we’ve received in the mail in the previous week(s).

Recieved

Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin

Sophie Blue started wearing a black skirt and Midnight Noir lipstick on her last birthday. It was also the day her father disappeared. Or spontaneously combusted. Which is sort of bad timing, since a Popsicle truck with tinted windows has started circling the house.

Kenny Fade is a basketball god. His sneakers cost more than his Jeep. He's the guy all the ladies (and their mommas) want. Bad.

Sophie Blue and Kenny Fade don't have a thing in common. Aside from being reasonably sure they're losing their minds.

Acclaimed author Sean Beadoin's wildly innovative novel combines uproarious humor with enough plot twists to fill a tube sock. Park thriller, part darkly comic philosophical discussion, and accompanied by a comic book interstitial, Fade to Blue is a whip-smart romp that keeps readers guessing until the last paragraph.

Sounds good!

Bought

Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today's bestselling teen authors John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

How was everyone else's week?

Quiz - What Kind of Reader Are You?

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Literate Good Citizen   You read to inform or entertain yourself, but you're not nerdy about it. You've read most major classics (in school) and you have a favorite genre or two.
Dedicated Reader
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Fad Reader
Book Snob
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Yep, that sounds about right.

School Halts Everything

School is once again in session, and I am being bombarded with homework. For my Junior year I'm taking two AP classes (AP US History & AP Language and Composition) along with Algebra II, Chemistry, Advanced Video Production, and Accounting. It's only been a week and I have way too much homework to count. I'm still reading of course! (just at a slower place)

What I'm reading right now:

Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott

The Columbine tragedy in April 1999 pierced the heart of our country. In December 1999, we learned that the teenage killers specifically targeted Rachel Scott and mocked her Christian faith on their chilling, homemade videotapes. Rachel Scott died for her faith. Now her parents talk about Rachel's life and how they have found meaning in their daughter's martyrdom in the aftermath of the school shooting. Rachel's Tears comes from a heartfelt need to celebrate this young girl's life, to work through the grief and the questions of a nation, and to comfort those who have been touched by violence in our schools today. Using excerpts and drawings from Rachel's own journals, her parents offer a spiritual perspective on the Columbine tragedy and provide a vision of hope for preventing youth violence across the nation.

Lately, I've been finding myself more and more interested in the events behind the Columbine School Shooting. One of my favorite Documentaries of all time was about the subject, Bowling For Columbine, which I urge everyone here to watch at some point. Non-fiction is not a big favorite among people my age, but I think if you can find a particular subject that interests you, then Non-fiction can be just as enthralling as fiction.

What do you think? What kind of Non-fiction do you like to read? Or do you not like Non-fiction at all?

Bookish Meme!

I'm stealing this meme from Khy at http://freneticreader.blogspot.com/

Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback?

Hardback's look the best on my bookshelf, but I only by Hardcover's for books written by my favorite authors. So, I own mostly trade paperbacks.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

Barnes and Noble. They have one at both of the malls in Portland, so I always go there. But, my favorite book store is Powells.

Bookmark or dog-ear?

I get mad at people who dog-ear books. My sister does it, and it annoys the hell out of me.

Amazon or brick-and-mortar?

I definitely like seeing the books in person. I like holding them, and feeling the cover (that sounds so weird). I have bought a lot of out of print books off of amazon, though.

Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random?

Right now, all my books are alphabetized by Author. However, I'm really not digging the way it looks. What do you guys think?

Keep, throw away, or sell?

KEEP. I keep all my books, or give them away to friends or family.

Keep dust jacket or toss it?

The dust jackets are the most awesome part! I'd NEVER throw one away.

Read with dust jacket or remove it?

I usually read with it on. If I take the book to school, I take it off, so it doesn't get bent in my backpack.

Short story or novel?

Both. On one hand, I love short stories, and how author's try to express more with less. It's really interesting. But on the other hand, I love novels, and how so much foreshadowing and build-up there can be.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?

Harry Potter. I never really got into A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

I've done both. It's better, in my opinion, to stop at chapters.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?

Why not, "Once upon a time, it was a dark and stormy night." ?

Buy or borrow?

Buy. I LOVE owning books. It's an addiction.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?

All three. Thanks to book blogs and friends, I've learned about a lot of books I would have never even heard of. I do like to browse and look at new books at the library and bookstore as well.

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?

Cliffhangers are good if there is a sequal. I like closure when finishing a book.

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?

Nightime reading during the school year, and Afternoon reading during the summer. It just fits my schedual better.

Stand-alone or series?

Stand alone books. I can become bored with a series after a while.

Favorite series?

Harry Potter. Always has been, and probably always will be.

Favorite children’s book?

I used to be obsessed with The Boxcar Children books. I read a lot of them, and saw the play twice in the same week! The Theif Lord is one of my all time favorites too.

Favorite YA book?

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. If you have not read this book, READ IT NOW. But, truthfully, my favorite YA book changes depending on the day.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

Love, Rose by Cecila Ahern. This book is amazing and so funny. I recommend it to anyone who will listen.

Favorite books read last year?

My favorite books read in '08 were Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Paper Towns by John Green, and Night by Elie Wiesel.

Favorite books of all time?

Love, Rosie by Cecila Ahern, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Theif Lord by Cornelia Funke, The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty, Sweethearts by Sara Zarr, The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan, Paper Towns by John Green, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Night by Elie Wiesel, and The Chosen by Chaim Potok.

What are you reading right now?

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. It is so long.

What are you reading next?

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was my summer reading that I put off until now.

Favorite book to recommend to an 11-year-old?

11 is a great year to start the Harry Potter books. Also, the (underated) Fire-Us trilogy by Jennifer Armstrong.

Favorite book to re-read?

The Year of Secret Assignments and Love, Rosie. I've read those both countless times.

Do you ever smell books?

I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Do you ever read primary source documents like letters or diaries?

I've read letters and diaries for school, but not on my own time.

---

That's all! I hope to see a lot of you do this meme, so I can see your answers!

Mandatory Music: Two is Better Than One by Boys Like Girls

Two is Better Than One by Boys Like Girls feat. Taylor Swift

I've always been a big Boys Like Girls fan. Their music has always been upbeat and fun to sing along with. With this new song off their new record, Love Drunk, fans get to see a new side of the band. The harmonies with Taylor Swift are gorgous, and this is definitely one of my new favorite songs.

What do you think?